Mavern House Nursing Home provides accommodation to people who require nursing and personal care. Some people have dementia. The home is registered to accommodate up to 51 people. At our last inspection in November 2013, we did not identify any concerns.The inspection took place on 25 and 26 October 2016 and was unannounced.
On the day of our inspection, there were 48 people living at the home. There were two lounges, an activities room, a separate dining room, bathrooms and toilets and a passenger lift to give easier access to both floors.
A registered manager was employed by the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The registered manager was present on both days of the inspection.
The ordering, storage and disposal of medicines was managed effectively. We observed a medicines round during the inspection. The administration of medicines was done in accordance with current guidelines and regulations. However, there were gaps in signing of administration of some medicines which had not been identified by staff.
People told us they felt safe when receiving care. Staff were able to tell us how to recognise signs of potential abuse and what action to take if they had any concerns. People’s risk assessments had been made and recorded in people’s care files.
There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff to support people and safe recruitment practices had been followed before new staff members started working at the home. Staff responded to people’s needs in a calm and proficient way and had sufficient knowledge to provide support and keep people safe.
Arrangements were in place for keeping the home clean and help reduce the risk and spread of infection. People’s rooms and sanitary ware in bath and shower rooms were kept clean. Staff had sufficient personal protective equipment available which we saw being used throughout the inspection.
The service had a clear understanding on the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Following a recent audit which had looked at people’s care plans, the need to implement improved documentation; particularly around consent had been identified and the new processes were now in place. Some care records had been updated in response to this and the service were in the process of completing this for all people using the service.
Staff received regular training in relation to their role and the people they supported and told us this had supported them to do their job effectively. Staff received regular supervisions and an annual appraisal where they could discuss personal development plans. This meant staff received the appropriate support to enable them to provide care to people who used the service.
People were supported to maintain good health and had access to health services which included regularly seeing their GP with additional visits according to any changing healthcare requirements. We saw an example of this during the inspection when one person who had become unwell had been referred to their GP.
People and their relatives were positive about the care and support they received from staff. We saw staff support people in a kind and friendly way which also protected their privacy and dignity.
The documentation to monitor diet and fluid intake of people who were at risk of malnutrition and/or dehydration were not consistently completed. However, records to monitor risks identified in other areas such as pressure care were well recorded and this information had been well communicated between staff for example, during staff handover.
Staff understood the needs of people they were providing care for. Care plans were individualised and contained information on people’s preferred routines, likes, dislikes and medical histories.
People, their relatives and staff were encouraged to share their views on the quality of the service. They told us management were approachable and they were confident if they had any concerns they would be taken seriously and addressed accordingly.
Staff spoke highly of how the service was managed and as well as there being an open door policy, regular staff meetings took place to allow staff to voice their feedback and be updated on best practice.
There were systems in place to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service provided. Where actions to improve the service had been identified, these had been acted upon.